Congratulations on "Featured Member"! Your blog looks great!

..but it's just so big to tackle in a little comment box, really. I've learned many things over the last 10 years ~ what I am ~ and what I'm not. The Lord is faithful to guide, listening to HIM is first priority.

Blessings to you ~
Angela

I can view your blog, but it often says it is done loading and there is a blank page. However, if I go to another tab and work for a minute or two and come back, it is usually up.
I was assuming it wasn't going to load after it said "done". I haven't tried it with firefox yet.

Me again.
Guess what? It loads immediately on firefox! Go figure. I only recently switched back to IE because of getting a new computer.
I'm glad you are discussing the church problem on your blog. I only did one or two posts, a few months back, but it was a big deal for us. I have MANY friends back in Mississippi who are struggling through the same questions. They are all finding that their churches are watering down teaching about the roles of men and women as spouses and parents and even what God expects from us as His children. It is not a matter of feeling judgmental, but of being able to see the root of the problem and finding out that no one wants the solution, which is obedience to God, of course. It's very discouraging. We are enjoying this time of being in a like minded congregation and trying to decided what we will do when it is time to return to Mississippi in a year a and a half.
This is getting really long, but I wanted to clarify one more thing. The church we attend doesn't take "extreme" stands on the things that some of the other commenters were referring to. There are not a lot of kids programs and many of the parents prefer to keep their kids with them, but there is a nursery and there are children's sunday school classes. What I have enjoyed most, is that everyone is given freedom in the "non essentials". Some of the women wear skirts most of the time, but more don't, and no one thinks it is worthy of remark or debate. Almost everyone homeschools, but the few families that have their kids in school are not judged or criticized for it. I would say we are evenly divided about entertainment with about half allowing video games and secular movies, etc. and half not. Again, no one makes judgments about anyone else. I know this sounds too good to be true, but I have been there for 4 months and haven't heard anyone gossip or slander. I think that is the key, because there is no murmuring tolerated. Church discipline is used, but they are much quicker to encourage and show mercy to one another. I am so hoping that God uses it to bring me to greater maturity in these things myself. I love the aroma of Christ that is always there when we meet together. I want to emanate that as well.